Referendum required before any change to voting age in New Brunswick: minister – CP

FREDERICTON _ The New Brunswick government says it won’t lower the voting age in the province unless it’s first approved through a referendum.

New Brunswick’s Commission on Electoral Reform recommended lowering the voting age to 16 from 18 but Victor Boudreau, the minister responsible for electoral reform, says the government will hold a referendum during the next municipal elections scheduled for May 2020.

The government is acting on a recommendation to cut the amount of money anyone can contribute to a political party.

A source within the Liberal government says they will announce this week that the limit will be lowered to $3,000 from $6,000.

The change is one of 24 recommendations made by the commission in a report released earlier this month.

The commission also recommended that political contributions from corporations and trade unions be phased out after the 2018 provincial election.

The source says the government is considering that, but has yet to make a decision.

It’s not known what the Gallant government will do with some of the other recommendations, such as moving to a preferential ballot.